In this section, we will go through the COCOA CAT framework for writing, including details on the different elements that make up this approach.
In the following video, Lisa Salem-Wiseman provides information on the COCOA CAT acronym in greater detail, including its applicability to writing in the health sector.
(To read along click here.)
Clear
Good writing should be simple and clear, and clarity always comes first. As Albert Einstein said, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”
Objective
Traditionally, the passive voice has been regarded as more objective and ‘scientific’ but many scientific journals now ask authors to use the active voice. (For example, see here and here.) The active voice keeps the agent clear, for instance, “We discovered the errors” is much clearer than “The errors were discovered”.
Concise
Brevity helps simplify writing. Try to remove:
- Meaningless words and phrases, such as: it is of interest to note; in order to; due to the fact that; as already stated; basically; interestingly; it goes without saying
- Redundantly paired words, such as: final outcome; red in colour; small in size; combine together; important essentials; interval of time; fewer in number
- Adjectives and adverbs of no clear limit, such as: very; multiple; sort of; quite a few; a lot; only; many; various
- Phrases that can be replaced with a word, for example: ‘despite the fact that’ can become ‘although’; ‘in the event that’ can become ‘if’; and ‘at the present time’ can become ‘now’.
Organized
The longer and more involved your writing needs to be, the more important it is to write an outline to clearly organize the content and flow.
Accurate
Writing clearly keeps your message accurate and to the point.
Correct
Be aware of commonly misused words and phrases, such as: assure, ensure, insure; case, participant, subject, patient; use, usage, utility, utilize.
Audience-appropriate
Always use inoffensive language; anything that offends someone excludes someone. As mentioned in the previous lesson, you should be aware of humour, jargon, and acronyms in your writing. Clearly define these aspects in your writing to make it easier for your audience.
Thorough
When in doubt, have someone else to read over what you have written before you release it to your audience to ensure it is thorough and that you haven’t missed anything important.
Learning Exercise: Concise Writing
Concise writing should be clear and accurate writing. Edit the following sentences to make them more concise.
After each question, once you have filled in your answer, click on ‘Hint’ to see one possible way to edit the sentence.
Previous LessonNext Lesson
Connect to Save Progress
You are not currently logged in. Create an account to keep track of your progress.
If you already have an account, please login.
- Don't have an account? Signup Now »
- Lost your password?